Suspension means



July 16, 1929.

W. J. GAGNON SUSPENSION MEANS Filed Sept. 2'7, 1928 4 INVENTOR WILLIAM .J. GAGNON Patented July 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. GAGNON, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BEAU CHAIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

SUSPENSION MEANS.

Application flied September 27, 1928. Serial No. 808,857.

My invention relates to suspension means and more particularly to constructions adapted to couple together two chain ends and to suspend an element therefrom. The invention'is especially useful in attaching a curtain to a pole.

An object of my invention is the provision of a simple, cheap and easily constructed part which may be conveniently attached to and detached from two chain ends, and which may also be readily attached to a third ele ment. A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of the class described which may be quickly and easily attached to and detached from a point near one edge of a curtain without in any way damaging the curtain. Other objects Wlll appear upon consideration of the present spec1ficat1on.

According to my invention the suspension means comprises an element having an expanded end and a divided end in the form of hooks. The suspension means may comprise a flat element having a flat expanded end and a divided end in the form of two hooks.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of a curtain and curtain rod showing a loop of ball chain passing over the curtain rod and a suspension means connecting the curtain with the loop of chain;

Fig.2, is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a parted elevation illustrating how the curtain may be attached to and detached from the suspension means;

Fig. 4 illustrates the suspension means as first blanked out of a flat sheet of metal;

Fig. 5 shows the suspension means as finally formed;

Fig, 6 is an elevation of the suspension means taken at right angles to Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top view of the suspension means;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of one part of one of the eyelets in the curtain top to which the suspension member is hooked;

Fig. 9 is a section view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a corresponding sectional view of the coacting part of the eyelet.

A convenient method of suspending a curtain from a curtain rod is to attach the curtam near its upper edge to a series of lengths of ball chain, each passing over the curtain rod. The ball chain slides freely along the rod, because each of the balls tends to roll upon the surface of the rod against which it lies. Various means have been heretofore designed for attaching a curtain rod to the ends of loops surrounding a curtain rod. The present invention, while not limited to such use, provides a simple means for this purpose, which is cheap, durable and exceedingly easy to attach to and detach from both the chain and the curtain.

In the drawings, a curtain rod 11 is illustrated which may be the usual curtain rod passing over the top of a doorway, or a curtain rod at the top of the entrance to a shower, or any other rod from which a curtain is to be suspended. A loop of ball chain 12 passes over the curtain rod 11, and from the loop ends a curtain 13 is suspended by means of a novel suspension means 14.

The suspension means 14 as here illustrated is a generally fiat element, although obviously it is not necessarily formed of flat material. The element 14 has two ends 15 and 16, the end 15 being turned at substantially right angles to the length of the element 14 in its plane, and the end 16 being divided longitudinally into two parts.

The end 15 terminates in an expansion 17 which is wholly in the same general plane as the suspension means. The purpose of the expansion 17 will be subsequently disclosed.

The end 16. as has been indicated, is divided longitudinally into two parts 18 and 19 which extend in the general direction of the length of the element. Each of these parts has in it a longitudinal slot 20 extending from its outer end inwardly. An enlarged opening 21 is preferably provided at the inner extremity of each slot, and I prefer to constrict the slot slightly at the edge of the enlarged opening for a purpose which will later appear.

The divided end 16 is turned out of the main plane of the element 14. In other words, the parts 18 and 19 are curved out of the plane of the element (as best illustrated in Fig. 6) each part being turned back upon itself throughan arc of substantially 180 degrees. The parts 18 and 19 therefore form two books. The slot 20 is preferably so disposed in each part that its inner end lies at the point farthest distant from the end 15 when the part is turned back as described. If the enlarged opening 21 is provided it is positioned at the point farthest distant from the end 15.

The suspension means 14 may be simply and easily attached to the two ends of the loop of ball chain 12 by placing the ball at each end of the chain within the turn formed in the respective parts 18 and 19 and moving the dumb-bell neck adjacent the ballthrough the slot 20 as far as it will go. Thus each part of the divided end 16 has a slot adapted to engage an end ball of the loop 12. The suspension means and loop then assume the position illustrated in Figure 1. If an enlarged opening 21 be provided in the parts 18 and 19, and if the .slot be constricted at the edge of the enlarged opening, the dumb-bell neck will have to be forced through the constricted portion of the slot. When in place within the enlarged opening the dumb-bell neck will be maintained in position against accidental displacement by the constriction of the slot. 7

The top of the curtain 13 is preferably provided with a series of openings 22 which may be conveniently protected by means of hollow eyelets 23 as illustrated best in Figures 2 and 3. The eyelets may be formed in two parts 24 and 25 (Figs. 9 and 10), and are connected through the openings 22 near the top of the curtain 13 so asto protect and strengthen the openings by surrounding their edges. One part of the eyelet is applied to one side of the curtain and the other part to the other side, the two being locked together in a well-known manner. The opening 22 and the eyelet 23 are preferably elliptical in shape and are so disposed in the curtain top that the longer axis extends horizontally of the curtain.

The suspension means having been coupled to the two ends of the loop of chain 12 passing over the curtain pole, the curtain is turned with its top in a vertical position and the eyelet which is attached to the curtain, is passed over the expansion 17 whose length is nearly equal to the greater length of the open ing in the eyelet, (see Fig. 3). The curtain is then turned into normal position as illustrated in Fig. 2, and is there held in place by the attaching means. It will be observed that the expansion 17 is longer than the shorter axis of the elliptical eyelet.

It is now possible to move the curtain easily back and forth; the separate balls of the ball chain rolling or tending to roll upon the curtain rod and eliminating friction to a large extent.

Itv will thus be seen that the suspension means is simple, cheap and easily constructed, it being merely necessary to blank the clement out of fiat metal as illustrated in Fig. 4, and to turn the two parts 18 and 19 of the end 16 as illustrated. The quickness and ease of attachment and detachment, both to the chain ends and the curtain have already been indicated. The curtain will not be damaged by frequent insertion of the pins now commonly in use. The desired objects are therefore fully attained by means of the present invention.

Other embodiments of the invention will readily occur to those dealing with this problem which do not depart from the proper scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

I claim 1. A suspension means comprising aunitary flat element having an expanded end and a divided end in the form of two hooks.

2. A suspension means comprising a unitary flat element having a flat expanded end and a divided end in the form of two hooks.

3. A suspension means comprising a flat element having a divided end turned out of the main plane of the element, and a second end turned at substantially right angles in the main plane of the element.

4. A suspension means comprising a flat element having a divided end turned out of the main plane of the element, and a second end turned at substantially right angles-in the main plane of the element and terminating in an expansion.

5. A suspension means comprising a fiat element having a divided end turned out of the main plane of the element through an arc ofsubstantially 180 degrees and a second end turned at substantially right angles in the main plane of the element.

6. A suspension means comprising a flat element having a divided end turned out of the main plane of the element through an arc of substantially 180 degrees and a second end turned at substantially right angles in the main plane of the element and terminating in an expansion. I

7. A suspension means comprising a flat element having an end divided longitudinally into two parts turned out of the main plane of the element through an arc of substantially 180 degrees, and a second end turned at substantially right angles in the main plane of the element and terminating in an expanslon.

' 8. A suspension means comprising a flat element having an end divided longitudinally into two parts turned out of the main plane of the element through an arc of substantially 180 degrees each part having a longitudinal slot therein, and a second end turned at substantially right angles in the main plane of the element and terminating in an expansion.

9. A suspension means comprising a flat element having an end divided longitudinally into two parts turned out of the main plane of the element through an arc of substantially 180 degrees each part having a longitudinal slot therein extending from the outer end of the part inwardly terminating in an enlarged opening at its inner extremity and a second end turned at substantially right angles in the main plane of the element and terminating in an expansion.

10. A suspension means comprising a flat element having an end divided longitudinally into two parts turned out of the main plane of the element through an arc of substantially 180 degrees each part having a longitudinal slot therein extending from the outer end of the part inwardly terminating in an enlarged opening at its inner extremity upon joining which opening the slot is constricted and a second end turned at substantially right angles in the main plane of the element and terminating in an expansion, substantially as described.

11. For suspending a curtain from a curtain rod, a loop of chain adapted to pass over the rod and a suspension means comprising an element having a divided end in the form of two hooks adapted to engage the end links of said chain, said element also having an end adapted to engage the top of the curtain.

12. For suspending a curtain from a curtain rod, a loop of ball chain adapted to pass over the rod, and a suspension means comprising an element havin an end divided into two parts turned out 0 the main plane of the element, each part having a longitudinal slot extending from its outer end inwardly adapted to engage an end ball of the loop, said element also having an end turned at substantially right angles to the length of the element in its plane terminating in an expansion and adapted to engage an eyelet in the top of the curtain, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM J. GAGNON. 

